Rail-joint for railways.



Patented Nov. 7, I899. N. McCARTY & G. D. CLAFLIN, In.

RAIL JOINT FOR RAILWAYS.

- (Application filed Mar. 11, 1898.) (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet l,

Tull.

WITNESSES: V

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. 7, I899. N. McCARTY & a. n. CLAFLIN, in.

FII3.7.

RAIL JUINT FOR RAILWAYS.

(Application filed Mar. 11, 1898.)

,No. 636,278. T

(No Model.)

WITNEEEEE:

No. 636,278. r v haunted Nov. 7, I899. N. McGARTY & a. n. CLAFLlN,-JR. RAIL JOINT FOR RAILWAYS.

(Applicatiox; filed Mar. 11, 1898.)

, 3 Sheets8heet 3 (No Model.)

I in.

Z17z'lnsses.- I veniorS; gnww. AQ /W UNITED STATES NORMAN MOCARTY, OF NEW YORK, N. OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNORS PATENT FFIC Y., AND GEORGE D. CLAFLIN, JR., TO THE AMERICAN RAIL JOINT RAIL-JOINT FOR RAILWAYSI SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 636,278, dated November 7, 1899.

Application filed March 11, 1898.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, NORMAN MOCARTY, residing at New York, in the county and State of New York, and GEORGE D. CLAFLIN, J r., residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuya hoga and State of Ohio, citizens of the United States, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rail-Joints for Railways, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to that class of railway-joints in which the meeting ends of the rails are secured and supported in alinement by means of plates which embrace the sides and bottom of the rails and which plates are caused to closely clamp the rail ends between them by means of interlocking diagonal or wedge-like surfaces,which are drawn laterally toward each other by driving one of the plates longitudinally upon the other. In joints ofthis class heretofore in use the opposing wedge-like surfaces by which the plates are drawn toward each other are necessarily placed either below or near the base of the rails to be secured, and it is found that drawing the plates toward each other at bottom tends to throw them apart and away from the rail at top. This tendency of the plates to leave the rail at top has heretofore been overcome by means of bolts passing from side to side through the plates and vthrough the rail, the bolts being secured in place by heavy nuts upon their threaded ends. This necessitates the use of numerous parts, which is objectionable, because of their liability to become loosened or broken and by reason of their cost and weight.

. The objects of our invention are to overcome the objections here pointed out and, more particularly, to provide a strong, simple, durable, and comparatively inexpensive joint consisting of two clamping-plates and in which the tendency of these plates to separate at top shall be overcome without the use of any additional part. We attain these objects by means of the devices hereinafter described, and shown and illustratedin the accompanying drawings, made part hereof, in which Figure 1 is an elevation in cross-section of a suspension-joint embodying our device; Fig.

Serial No. 673,478. (No model.)

2, a side elevation of the same; Fig. 3, a plan view of the same on line y y, Fig. 1; Fig. 4, an end View, partly in section, of a modified form of the same; Fig. 5, a perspective view of the left-hand plate shown in Fig. 4 detached; Fig. 6, avertical cross-section of another modification of our device used as a chair; Fig. 7, a side elevation of'the same, partly in'vertical section, the section being on line 00 50, Fig. 6; Fig. 8, a plan view taken on line y y, Figs. 6 and 7; Fig. 9, an end view, partly in section, of another modification of our device; Fig. 10, a perspective View of the left-hand plate shown in Fig. 9 detached; Fig. 11, another modification of our device in cross-section; Fig. 12, a side elevation of the same, partly in section, taken on line 0000, Fig. 11; Fig. 13, another modification of our device in transverse section, and Fig. 1 L still another modification of the same in transverse section.

Like letters and figures of reference indicate like parts throughout the drawings.

In the drawings, a a are rails having the usual head and base united by-an upright Web.

It should be understood that our invention is applicable alike to a T-rail'or to rails such as are in use for street-railways.

In that form of our device shown in Fig. 1, b is a plate the inner side of which conforms in outline to the side of the web and the top and bottom of the base, and the bottom horizontal part of which plate extends beyond the base, as at b. c is another plate of such contour as to conform to the opposite side of the rail web and base. In the top of the horizontally-projecting plate I) is a longitudinal groove d, (see Fig. 3,) disposed diagonally to the line of the rail. Upon the under side of the plate 0 is a tongue or series of lugs e, corresponding in cross-section with the interior of groove d. The tongue 8 is disposed upon its plate at an angle to the line of the rail to correspond with the like angle of the groove 01. Projecting downwardly from the lower side of the plate I) is a longitudinal rib b having a vertical face f. The plate 0 extends around and under the projecting part b of the plate I), as

at c, and is provided with a vertical face 9,

which when the parts are assembled in close relation opposes and is in contact with the face f.

If the parts 11 and c, with their opposing faces f g, were omitted and if the rails a a were clamped between the plates 1) c by driving the tongue 6 lengthwise into the channel (1 in the usual manner, it is obvious that the tongue 6 and the margins of the base of the rail would serve as pivotal lines or a fulcrum upon which as the plates 1) c are drawn together at bottom the plates would tilt, the upper parts of the plates tending to swing outwardly from each other. By the addition of the two opposing faces or stops f 9 it will be seen that this tendency of the plates 1) c to spread at top is prevented and completely overcome without the use of bolt, nut, or other independent part. The line of the two faces fg maybe either parallel with the line of the rail or at an angle thereto, it being only necessary that these two faces should be in close contact with each other when the plates 1) c are in final position. In the drawings we have illustrated both forms; but in practice we prefer to arrange the surfaces fg obliquely or in wedge fashion. In the examples of our device here shown the clampingplatesb c are supplied with the usual strengthening webs or ribs 2 2, which may be formed on the outside of the plate or inside, or both.

In that example of our invention illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5 the plates 1) e have their diagonal interlocking portions disposed directly beneath the web of the rail and both plates are extended downwardly toward each other, so that their faces fg meet in the vertical plane of the web of the rail. These faces thus in contact with each other prevent the outward swing of the plates 1) c at top, as above described, without the employment of any part save the two plates. In the two figures under consideration we have shown how the two pieces I) c after they are driven home may be prevented from moviu g longitudinally upon each other. This is accomplished by means of a lug 7t upon each of the plates, the lug of one plate being at the end opposite the lug upon the other plate. Opposite each of these lugs in the adjoining plate is a recess h, adapted to receive its neighboring lug h. Through each of the lugs is a hole 7L2, the two holes when the plates are in place being in line with each other. A bolt h is passed through the holes 7L2, and a nut h, tightly screwed upon the threaded extremity of the bolt, securely holds the two plates against longitudinal movement in opposite directions.

The modification of our device illustrated in Figs. 6, 7, and 8 shows a chair in which the wedge-like interlocking parts (Z c and the faces or shouldersfg are disposed in substantially the same horizontal plane. In this case the faces f g are horizontal transversely instead of vertical, as in the examples hereinbefore referred to, but serve the same purpose by tilting the upper edges of the plates inwardly in close contact with the rail.

Figs. 9 and 10 illustrate another chair, which is substantially like that just referred to, except that thecontaet-surfaces f g are in this instance sloped laterally at an angle to the horizontal and vertical.

In the forms of our device above referred to the shoulders or faces f g are located either below or substantially in the same horizontal plane with the draw portions d e. In the modifications of our device shown in Figs. 11, 12, 13, and 14 we have varied this arrangement, so that these shoulders or faces designed to force the plates 12 c inwardly toward each other at top are located above the base of the clamping-plates. The figures on Sheet 3 illustrate chairs for the rails of street-railways. In these joints lugs t' are cast integral with one of the plates, which lugs project inwardly through holes in the web of the rail provided to receive them and engage with suitable recesses in the other plate. The projecting extremity of the lugt' may be notched, as in Fig. 11, or headed, as in Figs. 13 and 14, the notched or headed portion being engaged in the channel by slipping the channel endwise over the notch orhead. InFig. 14 we have, instead of forming a recess upon the inner face of the plate I) to receive the heads of the lugs i, cut short slots, as at Z, entirely through the plate, through which slot passes the notched. or headed extremity of lug i. In either of the forms under consideration the opposing facesfg are formed upon the lug t' and the surfaces of the margin of the recess or channel which receives the lug.

To facilitate the assembling of the parts, the diagonal draw portions d 6 may each be cut away at intervals, as at m Figs. 5 and 12. These parts (1 e are now composed of separated sections, and the sections on one plate may be entered laterally through the spaces between the sections on the other plate, and then by moving one of the plates longitudinally the sections are'caused to interlock. In the examples of our device shown on Sheet 3 the channels or slots Z are enlarged, as at 70', Fig. 12, to receive the head or notched extremity of lug These openings 70 coincide with the notches 112, so that the lugs and their recesses may be engaged by the same operation which interlocks the parts d c and in the same manner. This arrangement for engaging the plates 1) c laterally saves the labor heretofore encountered in driving one plate its full length upon the other and also permits the interlocking of the two plates between the cross-ties, upon which the rails rest, without moving either the rails or ties, as has been necessary when the two parts (Z e have been entered upon each other at their extreme ends.

Having described our invention and its operation, what we claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

In a rail-joint, two plates adapted to clamp top, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

NORMAN MOOARTY. GEORGE D. OLAFLIN, JR. Witnesses as to the signature of Norman McCarty:

NOAH A. WHITNEY, ALMON HALL. Witnesses as to the signature of George D. Claflin, J I'.:

JOHN H. SIMPSON, RALPH G. BEATTIE. 

